As Melbourne great Garry Lyon admitted to being disgusted and heartbroken, Demons' president Don McLardy could only lament there was no ''miracle'' cure for the club's woes.

Supporters continued to vent their anger on Monday after an inept 79-point loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.

Defender Jack Watts, becoming a perennial whipping boy, said he was embarrassed by the team's efforts - and was later given a blast by former AFL coach Robert Walls, who said he should be ordered to work harder and play at centre half-forward.

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Debutant Jack Viney was one of several players to have addressed his shell-shocked teammates behind closed doors immediately after the defeat - highlighting his leadership qualities.

Viney was regarded by many as the Demons' best player, reinforcing why the club was desperate to secure the robust midfielder under the father-son rule.

McLardy, like many at the club, was still feeling the pain.

''Of course, I am extremely disappointed, as is our whole club. [There are] no miracle answers - it was a bad day and the only way to redeem ourselves is by our actions next week,'' he said.

The Demons face Essendon, buoyed by a first-up win in Adelaide, on Saturday night at the MCG. McLardy said he had already addressed the defeat with coach Mark Neeld.

''He [Neeld] is regrouping and focused on Essendon. He is very resilient which is a trait that is very useful at the moment,'' he said.

Following comments from another AFL great Wayne Carey, who labelled the performance the worst he had seen, Lyon said there was no defence for a rebuilt Melbourne team hoping to build on the four wins of last season.

''There is no defence at all that can be mounted for the performance that unfolded.

''I think at the six-minute mark they didn't have a kick. Six minutes of football without a kick.

''Then to see what unfolded, it was heartbreaking. I was disgusted at the end of it. I was. The kicking, the lack of pressure, the decision-making, the lack of intestinal fortitude, courage if you like, it was all there. Anything you want to throw up was there to be thrown back to say: 'absolutely hopeless'.''

Lyon, who attended the match with his family, also took aim at Neeld and his coaching group - a particularly damning comment considering Lyon was part of the sub-committee which replaced Dean Bailey with Neeld after a tumultuous 2011. Neeld is contracted until the end of 2013.

''Structurally, I queried some of the decisions the way they set up, particularly forward of the ball,'' Lyon said on Triple M.

''They weren't trying to get the footy out of the back half. They lacked confidence in their kicking. There was so much to be despondent about, it was demoralising to have a round one like that.''

''Then you see the decision-making, guys going back with the flight and flinching and ducking their head, and electing to punch [rather] than take possession,'' he said. ''Sometimes you can rationalise it, but not ever in a first game when your whole season is alive.''

Forward Mitch Clark has rolled his ankle but is hopeful of facing the Bombers.